Andres Tobar, Democratic Primary candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 47th district and a former federal government employee, was today endorsed by the American Federal Government Employees (AFGE) District 14 Council 1. Council 1 includes 18 AFGE Locals in good standing representing more than 20,000 federal employees in the Washington Metro Area. The AFGE Locals include the Federal Government Headquarters Locals for Labor, OPM, HUD, Department of Education, GPO, USDA, EPA, SSA, Smithsonian, National Archives and Records Administration, National Science Foundation, Census Bureau, Dept. of Commerce Economic Development Administration and three Locals within the Veterans Administration.

Thomas Owen Murphy, President of AFGE 14th District Council One, wrote in his endorsement letter that “[b]ased upon your background as a former Federal employee at the U.S. Department of Education, where you were represented by and a member of AFGE Local 2607, and your record in advocating for the community, it is Council 1’s pleasure to endorse your candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 47th District. Council 1 believes that your history of support for working families and the issues that matter most to them make you the best choice in the June 9th Democratic Primary Election.”

“Council 1 will urge AFGE members to support your campaign and ask that all of our members living within the 47th District vote for you on June 9th. We believe that solidarity with our sisters and brothers requires more than just talk, and we encourage the active participation of our members to support your election. We wish you much success in the future,” Murphy concluded.

“I am proud to receive the endorsement of AFGE District 14 Council 1. As a member of AFGE Local 2607 for 20 years during my career at the U.S. Dept. of Education and my ongoing work to support workers and their families since retiring from government, I would welcome the support of those members living in Arlington’s 47th District. We have a long way to go to ensure that workers in Virginia can vote for union representation, are paid a living wage and have health insurance benefits. I want to carry this fight to Richmond to ensure that working men and women are treated with fairness and respect,” Tobar stated.